Devils May Trade Dougie Hamilton to Sign Luke Hughes Long-Term

The New Jersey Devils have not officially announced any trade involving defenseman Dougie Hamilton. However, his name has been connected to trade speculation following offseason developments, particularly surrounding the team’s salary cap and the need to re-sign restricted free agent Luke Hughes.

Hamilton, 32, is currently in year five of a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Devils, carrying a $9 million average annual value. He originally signed the contract in free agency on July 28, 2021. Until recently, Hamilton’s contract included a full no-move clause, but it now includes a 10-team trade list, allowing the Devils to explore trade possibilities under certain conditions. On July 1, 2025, Hamilton received his signing bonus, and according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, the Devils have had conversations with multiple teams about a possible trade involving him. Friedman stated that while he did not have a specific percentage likelihood for a deal, Hamilton’s name “was kind of out there.”

General Manager Tom Fitzgerald publicly identified re-signing Luke Hughes as his top priority as of July 2, 2025. Hughes, a 21-year-old defenseman, is eligible to sign a maximum eight-year contract before September 16, 2026, when the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement reduces the maximum term for re-signed players from eight to seven years. Fitzgerald and Hughes reportedly agree on the goal of a long-term contract. A contract of this length is expected to carry an average annual value exceeding $7 million, potentially nearing $8 million.

According to PuckPedia, the Devils currently have $6,906,667 in cap space, and signing Hughes to an eight-year deal would require the team to clear additional cap room. One option would be trading forward Ondřej Palát, who carries a $6 million cap hit through the 2026–27 season. However, there is no indication that Palát is actively being shopped – trade speculation has rather focused on Hamilton.

Hamilton’s presence in the rumor mill follows the team’s offseason signings of forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov, as well as the re-signings of goaltender Jake Allen and center Cody Glass. These transactions, along with the anticipated extension for Hughes, have increased pressure on the Devils’ cap structure. The Devils are also managing roster changes after finishing the previous season without Jack Hughes, who missed significant time due to a shoulder injury.

Betting markets have responded to these developments. As of mid-July 2025, the Devils are listed between +1600 and +1900 to win the 2026 Stanley Cup, depending on the sportsbook. BetMGM listed the Devils at +1800, while FanDuel and ESPN Bet placed them at +1600. The New York Post reported that some sportsbooks, including FanDuel, priced the Devils at 19-to-1. These figures reflect a decline from earlier offseason numbers, which had the Devils’ Metropolitan Division odds move from +230 to +450.

On April 27, 2025, during Game 4 of their playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, FanDuel listed New Jersey at –188 on the moneyline, with the over/under set at 5.5 goals. Carolina was priced at –152 to cover a 1.5-goal puck line. Earlier, on April 5, 2025, during a game against the New York Rangers, the Devils were favored by 1.5 goals, priced at +205 to cover the puck line. The Rangers were listed at –260 on that line, and the over/under was 5.5 goals.

NHL analysts have mentioned that the 2025 postseason was dominated by favorites, with only one underdog winning a first-round series. Betting experts have identified a trend where recent NHL playoffs have become less favorable to long-shot teams, influencing how mid-tier teams like the Devils are viewed in the futures market. This, along with Hamilton’s contract status and Jack Hughes’ injury, has contributed to the adjustment in odds.

The Devils’ options regarding Hamilton may also be affected by the trade status of other right-handed defensemen around the league. Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames is considered a likely trade candidate. Andersson, 28, is in the final year of a six-year contract with a $4.5 million cap hit and has a six-team no-trade list. He has reportedly been available in past offseasons, and his name remains active on trade boards in summer 2025. Andersson has a career-high of 50 points and is viewed as more defensively reliable than Hamilton.

Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins is another right-shot defenseman linked to trade speculation. Karlsson, 35, has a full no-move clause and an $11.5 million cap hit through July 1, 2027. He has been the subject of three-team trade discussions. Karlsson’s contract may require a third-party broker with cap space, such as the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, or Chicago Blackhawks. Karlsson has not yet been traded, and as long as he and Andersson remain on the market, movement involving Hamilton may remain stalled.

Amid these developments, speculation continues about Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Hughes, 24, is in year five of a six-year deal. Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford has acknowledged that Hughes has previously expressed a desire to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski suggested that any plan by the Devils to unite the Hughes brothers could eventually involve moving Hamilton off the roster.

Mock trade scenarios have been discussed publicly. One hypothetical trade proposes the Devils send Dougie Hamilton, Dawson Mercer, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Canucks in exchange for Quinn Hughes and Dakota Joshua. Another scenario involves trading Palát to clear cap space and sending Mercer to Vancouver in a separate deal. No such trades have occurred, and Quinn Hughes remains under contract with Vancouver. There is no confirmation that Hughes has requested a trade, and no official indication that the Canucks are planning to move him.

As of now, the Devils have not completed a trade involving Dougie Hamilton, and no final decisions have been announced regarding the re-signing of Luke Hughes. The team’s cap space remains limited, and discussions continue as the NHL offseason unfolds.